Ice shaving apparatus



Nov. 20, 1962 F. B. VAN ZANDT 3,064,591

ICE SHAVING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1961 7/7 9 m V INVENTOR 1 Frank B. Van Zondt f5 V ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,064,591 ICE SHAVING APPARATUS Frank B. Van Zandt, 3505 St. Johns St., Dallas 5, Tex. Filed Mar. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 97,371 1 Claim. (61. 107-68) characteristics of shavings, while at the same time shaping and dispensing the comminuted ice in molded form simulating scoops thereof.

The term snow cone, as used in this application, refers to a frozen confection which comprises a scoop of ice shavings, usually dispensed in a conical paper cup, having a flavoring material, consisting of a dilute syrup, poured over it.

An object of this invention is to provide automatic means for shaving ice cubes as delivered while at the same time depositing ice shavings in cups and shaping the upper surface of the ice whereby it assumes a molded, substantially hemispherical form, in an automatic vending machine for dispensing snow cones having means for delivering a supply of ice cubes individually and consecutively, as desired, and having means for delivering a supply of paper cups individually and consecutively, in timed sequence relative to the ice cube delivery means.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the parts.

Referring to the drawing, FIGURE 1 shows diagrammatically a portion of an automatic vending machine for dispensing snow cones having means, designated generally by the numeral 1, for delivering a supply of ice cubes individually and consecutively, as desired, and having means, indicated generally by the numeral 2, for delivering a supply of paper cups individually and consecutively, in timed sequence relative to the ice cube delivery means 1.

The means, designated generally by the numeral 1, for delivering a supply of ice cubes individually and consecutively, as desired, may comprise a receptacle adapted to contain a supply of preformed ice cubes, and a delivery chute 3 for dispensing them as desired.

The numeral 4 indicates an ice cube in position to be discharged from the chute 3.

The means, indicated generally by the numeral 2, for delivering a supply of paper cups individually and consecutively, in timed sequence relative to the ice cube delivery means 1, may comprise a flexible conveyor belt 5 having openings 6 therein each adapted to receive a paper cup 7.

The cups 7 are adapted to be supported in the openings 6 by abutment of peripheral beads formed on the 3,064,591 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 ice cups 7 with the material of the belt 5 surrounding the openings 6.

The numeral 8 indicates generally means for shaving the ice cubes 4 as delivered by the chute 3, while at the same time depositing the ice shavings in the cups 7 and shaping the upper surface of the ice, as received in the cups 7, whereby it assumes a molded, substantially hemispherical form.

The means, indicated generally by the numeral 8, for shaving the ice cubes 4, while at the same time depositing the ice shavings in the cups 7 and shaping the upper surface of the ice, whereby it assumes a molded, substantially hemispherical form, includes a normally vertically disposed tubular receptacle 9, which is adapted to receive an ice cube 4 as it is discharged from the chute 3.

The receptacle 9, which has a cylindrical exterior surface, has a polygonal socket 10 in its upper end which conforms to the shape of an ice cube 4 receivable therein, whereby the ice cube 4 is adapted to be secured against rotation relative to the receptacle 9. The receptacle 9 has a cylindrical bore 11 beginning at its lower end, and communicating at its upper end with the socket 10, for use as hereinafter described.

The receptacle 9 is connected by screws 12 to a bracket 13, which in turn is connected by screws 14 to one side of a vertically disposed plate 15, whereby the receptacle 9 is rigidly supported in fixed position below the discharge end of the chute 3. The chute 3 is attached to the plate 15, above the receptacle 9, by screws 16.

A horizontally disposed plate 17, which advantageously may be formed of plastic material, is secured to the lower edge of the plate 15, by screws 18, and extends outwardly therefrom.

The plate 17, which is substantially square, has a round opening 19 therein, and has an annular groove 20 in its upper side surrounding the opening 19 and communicating therewith. The annular groove 20 defines an upwardly facing internal shoulder surrounding the opening 19, below the groove 20.

The opening 19 is positioned below the cylindrical bore 11 of the receptacle 9, in alignment therewith. The diameter of the opening 19 corresponds substantially to the diameter of the cups 7, while the diameter of the annular groove 20 corresponds substantially to the diameter of the cylindrical bore 11 of the receptacle 9.

A normally vertically disposed cylindrical element 21, which has a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the cylindrical bore 11 and the annular groove 20, is disposed between the receptacle 9 and the plate 17, in engagement with the cylindrical bore 11 and the annular groove 20, and is rotatable relative thereto.

The cylindrical element 21 has a cavity in its under side forming a hemispherical mold 22 communicating with the opening 19 of the plate 17, and has a plurality of radially arranged slots 23 therein, beginning at its upper end and communicating with the mold 22 which may not only be hemispherical in form but may be conical if desired.

The opposite end portions of the respective slots 23 are arranged parallel to the diameter of the cylindrical element 21, and spaced rearwardly thereof, relative to the direction of rotation of the element 21, and are connected by mutually intersecting intermediate portions which are inclined to obtuse angles relative to the end portions and are offset laterally relative to each other.

A plurality of segmental plates 24 are secured to the upper end of the cylindrical element 21, between the slots 23, by screws 25. The leading edges of the plates 24, relative to the direction of rotation thereof, have integral scraper blades 26 thereon which conform generally to the shape of the adjacent edges of the slots 23 and are inclined upwardly and forwardly relative thereto. It is not intended, however, to limit the plates 24 to the shape and arrangement herein shown and described.

A sprocket 27 surrounds the cylindrical element 21 and is rotatable therewith. The sprocket 27 is positioned immediately below the lower end of the receptacle 9, and is connected by screws 28 to an annular member 29, which is positioned above the sprocket 27 and surrounds the receptacle 9. The annular member 29 has an annular groove 30 in its under side, adjacent its inner periphery. An annular bearing 31, which may be formed of metal or suitable plastic material, is received in the groove 30, between the receptacle 9 and the annular member 29. The plate 17 and the annular bearing 31 advantageously may be formed of nylon, whereby they provide self lubrieating bearings for the cylindrical element 21 and the sprocket 27.

An electric motor 32, which is mounted on the plate 15, has a sprocket on its shaft which is connected by a chain belt 33 to the sprocket 27, whereby the sprocket 27 and the cylindrical element 21 are adapted to be rotated relative to the receptacle 9 and the plate 17 by the action of the motor 32.

A wiper element comprising an arcuate strip 33, which may be curved about a radius corresponding to the radius of the hemispherical mold 22, has its ends secured to the underside of the plate 17 on opposite sides of the opening 19, by bolts 34 having nuts 35 applied thereto, and extends upwardly through the opening 19 for scraping engagement with the mold 22, upon rotative movement of the cylindrical element 21 relative to the plate 17, whereby ice is scavenged from the mold 22. The wiper element may be formed in any desirable manner, depending upon the shape of the mold 22.

The scraper blades 26 are adapted to shave the under side of an ice cube 4, received in the socket upon rotation of the cylindrical element 21 relative to the receptacle 9. The resulting ice shavings fall through the slots 23 and are received in a cup 7 positioned below the "opening 19 of the plate 17, below the mold 22. The

upper surface of the ice received in the cup 7 is shaped by the action of the mold 22, in conjunction with the arcuate strip 33', whereby it assumes a molded, substantially hemispherical form. V

For better operation, and to insure a proper and uniform ice product, it is desirable to impose pressure upon the ice cubes 4 to enable the plates 24 to cut or shave the same. A weighted element 36 is provided and slidable vertically in a housing 37 attached by bolts or screws 38 to the supporting plate 15, as shown in FIGURE 1, and is adapted to be secured in inoperative, or its upper position in the housing 37 by a screw 39, or other device, operative in a vertical slot 40 in the front of the housing 37. The element 36 is conformable in transverse section to the polygonal socket ortreceptacle 10.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

Means for shaving ice cubes of predetermined size, whereby the ice cubes are converted to measured amounts of finely divided ice having the characteristics of shavings, while at the same time shaping and dispensing the comminuted ice in molded form, comprising a fixed support, a vertically disposed tubular receptacle having means securing it to the fixed support, the receptacle having a square socket in its upper end adapted to receive an ice cube and having a cylindrical bore beginning at its lower end and communicating with the socket, a vertically disposed cylindrical element having its upper end received in the cylindrical bore, means carried by the fixed support supporting the cylindrical element for rotation relative to the tubular receptacle, power -i driven means acting on the cylindrical element to rotate it, means adapted to support a paper cup below the cylindrical element, the cylindrical element having a cavity in its lower end forming a hemispherical mold adapted to be positioned in opposed relation to the top of a cup positioned below it, and having a pair of crossed slots beginning at its upper end and communicating with the mold, a plurality of segmental plates connected to the upper end of the cylindrical element, between the slots, the leading edges of the segmental plates, relative to the direction of rotation of the cylindrical element, having integral scraper blades overlying the adjacent edges of the slots, and fixed means engageable with the mold upon rotation of the cylindrical element whereby ice is adapted to be scavenged from the mold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 20,952 Smith Dec. 20, 1938 1 1,977,320 McKinney Oct. 16, 1934 2,899,915 Tomik Aug. 18, 1959 

